At Groundline, we’ve built a reputation over the last 20 years as a leading supplier of transmission and distribution infrastructure design to electricity network operators and contractors all over the world.

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We are proud of that legacy. But we know that to support the massive infrastructure upgrades that are required to get nations to net zero emissions by 2050, we can’t just sit and wait for the phone to ring, a strategy that frankly served Groundline well for much of its history.

It’s not that there isn’t enough work in the pipeline. In fact, the work coming online through initiatives such as the Great Grid Upgrade and Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) in the United Kingdom, will stretch electricity infrastructure companies and contractors to their limits.  

After years of focus on commissioning new wind, solar, hydro and geothermal generation plants to reduce carbon emissions, the scale of the required upgrade of transmission infrastructure to transfer this clean energy to power-hungry customers is starting to dawn on the industry.

Here are six statistics to give you an idea of the scale of the task ahead of the industry:

• Global transmission lines are projected to increase by around 185% between 2021 and 2050.

• To achieve the UK’s 2035 power sector decarbonisation target, over five times more transmission lines need to be built than have been in the last 30 years.

• An estimated 10,000 kilometres of new transmission lines will be required by 2050 in Australia alone.

• The United States may need to expand its transmission systems 60% by 2030 and potentially triple them by 2050.

• Globally, transmission lines are forecast to almost triple by 2050 from 2020 levels of about six million kilometres.

• In the US and Europe, about 1,000 GW (gigawatts) of solar projects and more than 500 GW of wind are currently waiting in interconnection queues to be connected to the grid.

Unless we work effectively together – electricity generators, network operators, transmission companies and contractors, we are going to experience crippling bottlenecks that delay projects and see emissions reduction targets missed.

To combat this, Groundline is moving from being a trusted supplier, ready to spring into action when a transmission lines project is ready for development, to partnering with customers to identify their needs much earlier in the process.  This partnership approach allows us to streamline processes, help mitigate risks, and ultimately deliver projects that meet both regulatory standards and customer expectations.  

Earlier engagement is essential

In recent years, we’ve done this by conducting front-end engineering design (FEED) studies for customers to develop a mutual understanding of the transmission line upgrades and replacements that are required to accommodate new electricity generation. We’ve undertaken numerous scoping projects for customers as well.

This work marks a path for Groundline and industry. We need to get on the front foot, be less transactional and more strategic in our approach to planning, designing and deploying transmission infrastructure.  

In doing so, we can elevate the value we provide customers, by moving beyond a transactional relationship to building trust and a shared understanding of their long-term objectives, and the challenges and opportunities they face.

Groundline’s edge

I see Groundline as particularly suited to building these partnerships. We have one of the most experienced teams in the business, a global footprint and a successful track record of managing complex projects end-to-end.

We are technology agnostic. We have no particular barrow to push when it comes to network design and construction. We spend a lot of time with customers so we can understand their needs and recommend the right solution to ensure the best outcome.

We are contractor friendly. Many of our competitors focus on advising infrastructure operators in the planning and design phase and then hand off to contractors. That’s because they don’t want to get their hands dirty. At Groundline, we are hands-on working with contractors every day, managing those relationships to keep projects on time and within budget. It’s one of our particular strengths that we work so well with a wide range of contractors throughout the project lifecycle.

Groundline invests in its people. We have an extensive training programme, including an approved graduate scheme, and apprenticeship positions. It means that we are constantly upskilling new and existing Groundline staff in the latest technologies and to accommodate the needs of our customers.

Taking a long-term view

What does partnership look like? It can take many forms including strategic planning, collaborative scoping, and risk assessments. It can be as simple as sharing ideas and insights, which can identify opportunities for cost savings, help keep our industry colleagues safe, and support more sustainable practices.

The statistics above illustrate the huge amount of work ahead of the electricity industry. Our old way of working will no longer cut it.  

At Groundline we are putting a stake in the sand. We see a future built on partners who work together with the early engagement that will help the electricity industry manage the infrastructure transition essential to reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

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By Adam Yates, UK Director, Groundline United Kingdom